New Low In India’s Ties With Nepal After Its PM’s Virus Comment

2 weeks ago

0 42 Less than a minute

Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Oli has blamed India for the spread of coronavirus in his country and accused New Delhi of building a road that encroaches on the Himalayan nation’s territory, marking a new low in bilateral relations between the traditional allies.

Nepal has approved a new political map demarcating the Lipulekh mountain pass, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura — places it says India has claimed by building a road despite repeated objections, Press Trust of India reported citing Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.

Ruling Nepal Communist Party lawmakers have also tabled a special resolution in Parliament demanding the return of Nepal’s territory in Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh, the report said.

Oli told the Parliament Wednesday his government would “bring back at any cost” the three territories, before blaming India for the spread of coronavirus in his country, NDTV reported, citing a video tweeted by Nepal’s government. India has nearly 107,000 confirmed virus cases, while Nepal has 402, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.